3 solid days on the Roadie in the Downs for me. I'm steering clear of any trail until it drains off and dries, I'm bored of washing my CX & Niner, so Roadie it will be until...hmm.. June.

I stretched out on Friday, 88miles all in, hacked over to Winny via Upham/Owlesbury then back to Cheriton, Arlesford, Alton, Steep, East Meon, Dundridge, Home. In the main I stuck to the single track lanes, some are remarkably good condition considering others are either potted/rutted/still masquerading as streams/rivers. The further East you go the worse the lanes are, ahh beautiful forgotten East Hants..
Saturday was interval training. Not far from me is a steep ¾’s of a mile climb out of Swanwick and I timed myself hacking up it, did it 15 times in spin mode then dropped down two cogs and dragged my sorry arse up it again 4 times more by which time I was blowing chunks.
Sunday and one of my fave rollouts, 45miles on my Upham/Privett loop. It takes me up to Upham then over the top of the Downs towards Privett and High Cross then back to East Meon then West Meon where I hack over the top and back into Bishops Waltham where I catch the Botley Road and proceed to get squished by fast cars and slow moving trucks, I rather hate that road and despite my best efforts it still takes what seems like an age to ride over it, hey ho it’s the easiest way home. Got caught out in the hail storm, 15 mins and all I got for it was a stinging face.
Back in Shiney Town and it all seems like an a very very long time ago..

Another lovely cx ride in the Test Valley today with delights that included an 11th century church and a Roman road. Some different roads this time too. Good thing about shonky roads is you don't get a peleton whizzing past closely.

Drivers were courteous, I tend to wave them through when it's safe to pass me followed by a thanks signal. Even got a toot toot in appreciation, I think that's what it was!

Just up the hill from Dundridge, effectively behind the Hampshire Bowman. It's a wood that is about 1.5 miles in length across the hill and about 1/2 mile from field to top of the hill. Wild Garlic grows, so too masses of Bluebells.
Then there's the woods up the Hamble near the Jockey Pub again the woods run all along the river so you get pockets of bluebells in each of the overhanging tree lines, what with that and the shimmering sun shining off the river and it makes for a veritable kaleidoscope of colour.

There are area's in Chawton Park Woods between Four Marks and Beech, that never fail to seduce me, especially in a few weeks when the Beech have sprouted their fresh, vibrant green leaves

Bushey Leaze (or Sleazy B to some ) just on the fringe of Alton, has a few area's too IIRC

There's also a cheeky and much fun trail off the SDW just west of Harting Down, towards West Harting woods that snakes and twists its sinewy way through a copse brim full of wild garlic and bluebells. Summer time brings 3ft high nettles to the West Harting end of this trail, leaving arms and legs tingling in a pleasure/pain way

Quick run out to QECP this afternoon, it never ceases to amaze me how incredibly unfit I am these days :-). Had a good ride, had a few practice runs on the bit I never get right and got it about as right as I ever have, which was nice!

Trail was running really nicely and I saw a deer once again which always makes me think the same thing each time. "Well if I hadn't been out here riding I wouldn't have seen that" those encounters make the pain worthwhile.

Happy to report that I'm back on the mtb and smiling. Sad to report that after my little ride today I was looking forward to stopping at my newly discovered Cafe in Barton Stacey but, alas, it's no longer there, BOO.

Anyone got any recent experience of The Watership Down at Freefolk? Am poring over maps, and it looks like it might make a decent pint stop on a route around that area. Bike friendly? Beer? Bar snacks? That sort of thing?

Decent LBS ideally in Winchester or Fareham area open today, Easter Friday. Need to get some brake fluid and bleed kit and want to give the business to a good shop. Only have phone so haven't searched this thread, thanks

We'll I did the Shipwrights Way yesterday, I really enjoyed it. Heading home after a few weeks in London and I was eager to ride dirt. It's worth doing if you coming South a mix of sustrans and Bridleways which was perfect for my TCX and eager legs..
Looking forward to bouncing my butt over the Downs now on the roadie, awe haaaappppppyyyyy days

Despite my wife suggestion that I may be subjected to a deliverance style assault if i met a stranger from the internet in a wood, or worse they might mug me for my bike! I survived my meeting with Jambalaya and Mark with little more than a few scratches to my calfs.

Lovely bluebells on display and some interesting trails to be found i think. A few too many trees were blocking the trails today to get any real idea of what these woods could be like but we saw signs that riders have been in before and created some stuff.

Good to meet you Jambalaya and hopefully get out again somewhere soon.

Something of interest for those looking for a ride out on the 27th April: The Houghton Trail 32k Cycle Ride. It is a charity cycle ride around the Test Valley which uses the Test Way and has a couple of interesting climbs included.